But our favourite and most gruesome are our severed witches fingers. They look positively disgusting but taste amazing. Buttery shortbread, chocolate centre and a whole almond make these a perfect addition to a warm cup of milk or tea, if you can look past the fact it’s a creepy finger…

We used salted caramel matchmakers for our centres (currently in Poundland).

Ingredients

250g plain flour

50g cornflour

100g caster sugar

200g real butter

Few drops gel/paste food colouring (we used purple but green or orange would be equally gross)

15 whole blanched almonds

15 salted caramel matchmakers

Preheat the oven to 180°C or gas Mark 4

Line 2 baking sheets with greeseproof/baking paper

In a large toddler friendly bowl mix the flours, butter, sugar and food colour until you have a fairly firm dough.

Scatter a good handful of flour over the worktop and pop a heaped tablespoon of dough on top.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and wrap around an individual matchmaker.

Shape into a finger by pressing around the chocolate and press an almond in top to create a fingernail. Using the edge of your spoon, make 3 indents halfway down to create a knuckle. Place complete finger on a prepared baking sheet.

Continue until you have used all your dough. You should hopefully have between 10- 15 fingers unless your kids enjoy eating raw dough and randomly pressing almonds in as much as mine do…

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Benefits

In an attempt to keep the kids happy and quiet I’ve found we spend at least an hour a day in the kitchen. If its not baking its another form of messy play or splashing about with the sink.

At best baking with kids is a stimulating and diverting screen free activity which encourages sensory development and aids knowledge of cause and effect, increases curiosity and is an all round brilliant way to enhance cognitive skills.

At worst its a really messy way to enjoy something yummy- so its win win